One of the greatest songs that Pantera ever createdcame from a lawsuit you won’t believe. Even though the situation was bad, they made the best of it. This story, much like many others, such asThe Offspring creating a major hit because of science, shows that you never know when inspiration will strike.
Often, many of the most iconic musicians in history just wrote what they felt worked best. When you look at thegreatest hits of the Beatles, the songs are genius, as they took things to places most wouldn’t consider. However, it’s the out-of-the-box thinking that canseparate a band from all other acts in their genre and beyond.
Pantera was always a group that proved they would perform what they truly felt. They built upon thefoundation set by the pioneers of metal in the 1970s. These originators of the sound proved thatit was all about feeling and a true belief in what you played, because that’s what would make it resonate with listeners.
A Lawsuit Sparked The Idea For Pantera’s “5 Minutes Alone”
After Pantera found their iconic sound with singer Phil Anselmo at the helm, there was no stopping them. They became a true force in metal, transforming the genre with an aggressive sound. Perhaps the tune that has demonstrated their ability to be bellicose the most is “5 Minutes Alone,” butthis song is more than just fighting words.
As Pantera’s stock continued to grow, so did the crowds around them. Of course, the band, especially Anselmo, were known for crazy antics,which led to complicated interactions.During an interview with Loudwire, Anselmo recounted the day he received the lawsuit that would inspire “5 Minutes Alone,” saying, “Here comes this lawsuit, and it’s from this guy claiming I jumped off stage and beat him up.”
If things had stopped there, the inspiration for the song may not have happened, but the lawsuit continued. The person suing them wasn’t the only one in this document, asit also included his father. It was here that the father provided different quotes, with Anselmo citing that one of them stood out to him, and it was something he didn’t forget, saying, “One of his dad’s quotes was,‘I don’t care about any lawsuits; I’d just like to get that Phil Anselmo five minutes alone.'”
After reading the quote, Anselmo’s manager handed it back, and they shared a laugh that the dad would, in fact, not want to do that. The situation was frustrating because it was a lawsuit, so it was something that Anselmo and his team had to address. However, they were able to make the best of the situationby creating arguably the greatest Pantera song.
Far Beyond Driven Is Filled With Rawness
This Album Was Made For Emotion
When examining Pantera’s 1994 record,Far Beyond Driven, it is full of rawness. After its release, the album reached the number one spot on theBillboard200,marking a major accomplishment for them and for metal. There is much that can be said about what made the record successful, but the main point is that it connected with listeners.
Of course, there is “5 Minutes Alone,” which became one of the most aggressive songs of all time. However, that was not the only tune where the band expressed their inner thoughts. Tracks such as “Becoming” and “I’m Broken” are two other examples of howthis record stripped away facades and addressed deeper topics.
Additionally,they included a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan"on the record. There were many songs they could have chosen from the iconic band’s catalog, but this one seemed to fit them best. They managed to stay close to the original, capturing the slow-building pain felt throughout the haunting track.
After listening to this record, listeners feel as though they have undergone an experience. Of course, there are a few tongue-in-cheek moments throughout, but for the most part,the band projects rawness. At the time, this was precisely what they needed to keep their career ascending, and even now, these songs still resonate.
30 Years Later, Pantera Is Still Asking For “5 Minutes Alone”
The Song Has Become Legendary
The history of Panterahas been filled with ups and downs. At one point, they were among the greatest metal bands of the ’90s, but everything would come to an end. As the years went on, the foundation of the band was forever changed with the death of the co-founders. However, fans never let their love for them go.
In 2022, the remaining members, singer Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown,decided to carry on. They welcomed legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne and his solo work. Additionally, they welcomed drummer Charlie Benante, known for being in Anthrax, and they began the reunion.
As they took to stages worldwide,one of the songs they constantly included in their setlist was “5 Minutes Alone.“It has become a calling card, and with its backstory, the legend of it has grown. Throughout the years, it has broken into the Top 10 for the songs they have performed the most,with over 300 performances of it.
Whenever the story of Pantera is told, “5 Minutes Alone” will always be included. Not only is it a phenomenal song, but it’s yet another example of how they overcome adversity to create something great. After the lawsuit, the dad didn’t get his “five minutes alone” with Phil Anselmo, but he is forever a part of Pantera history.
